Phaedra snorted. “Tell me, Deerhurst, do you take all the ladies to seedy parts of town or am I the first?”
Green eyes fastened on her.
Magnetic.
The word slid into her mind like the first glimpse of a shooting star. Vivid. Breathtaking. And wholly unexpected.
He cocked his head to the side as a devilish spark entered his gaze. “Only you.”
Only her.
Now, there were two words that held immense power—only you. Phaedra would have to be made of rock not to feel a slight flutter thatshewas the only one. The only one he brought to... to...
The seediest part of London.
Phaedra frowned, then cleared her throat.
Right.
That was nothing to get her stays into a twist.
“What do you plan to do to me, Deerhurst? I warn you, I will hunt you down and gut you if your intentions are anything but sterling.”
He laughed outright. “Upon my honor, Lady Phaedra, you have nothing to fear.”
And once again he offered his arm.
Once again Phaedra accepted it.
*
Deerhurst must havelost every last one of his marbles to bring Lady Phaedra to the Lawson Home for Abandoned Children. His first thought had been to outrun their pursuers, and his second had been to find a place where they could pause and catch their breath.
He had thought about returning her to the Sharp house, but he wasn’t so sure they wouldn’t be ambushed on their way back home or that her suitors wouldn’t have overpowered the butler and invaded the house.
This was utter bloody madness.
Never in his life had he experienced such uncivilized absurdity. It seemed impossible that one little list could stir up so much trouble. Had the men in London all lost their damn fortunes? Their dignity had certainly been placed in question after today. But Deerhurst knew the truth. This was no longer about money. This was about conquest. The thrill of the chase. The satisfaction of victory over others. Winning.
Evenhebrimmed with a misplaced sense of triumph at being the one at Phaedra Sharp’s side.
“I must warn you, Deerhurst, I don’t like surprises.”
“Noted.” Deerhurst smiled at the woman beside him “No surprises here, my lady. Just a shelter.” In all senses of the word.
“I sincerely doubt that,” she said. “Everything you do surprises me.”
“Pleasant surprises, I hope.”
“Pleasant or unpleasant, neither appeals to me. In fact, I’m not sure which is worse, the pleasant ones that give rise to expectations or the ones that pop up like a sore tooth. Like Cromby. They both bring me discomfort.”
Deerhurst arched a brow. “Heaven almighty, where’s the rosy chit from this morning?”
“You doused her spirits with all this suspense.”
He laughed. “You are an impatient woman, Lady Phaedra.”
“It’s never been my virtue,” Phaedra agreed.
